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How to Set Up a Game of American Mahjong: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

American Mahjong game setup with four green racks, pink Mahjong tiles arranged in 19-tile walls, National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) scorecard, wind indicator, and two dice on a game table.

Playing Mahjong online is super convenient—most of the setup is done for you. But when you’re playing in person with a physical set, you’ll need to do a little more work before the fun begins. Don’t worry! Setting up is easy once you get the hang of it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your game going.

Step 1: Gather Your Players and Materials

You’ll need:

  • 4 players (American Mahjong is best with four)
  • A square or round table
  • Racks (one for each player)
  • Pushers (optional but helpful)
  • A full set of 152 tiles
  • Dice
  • A wind indicator (optional)
  • Current NMJL scorecards (each player should have one)

Step 2: Understand the Tiles (Quick Overview)

Before setup, it helps to know what’s in the set:

  • Suits: Dots (circles), Bams (bamboos), Craks (characters) – 4 copies of each, 1-9
  • Honors: Winds (N, S, E, W) and Dragons (Red, Green, and White/SOAP) – 4 of each
  • Flowers: 8 total
  • Jokers: 8 wild tiles

Remove any spare or extra tiles (some sets include extras that aren’t used in play)

Step 3: Build the Walls

  1. Place all 152 tiles face-down in the center of the table.
  2. Everyone helps shuffle the tiles thoroughly with their hands.
  3. Each player builds a wall: two tiles high and 19 tiles long, placed directly in front of their rack.
    • The four walls form a square in the middle of the table.

Step 4: Determine the Dealer (East)

  1. Each player rolls the dice.
  2. The highest roller becomes East (the dealer). The others, in counter-clockwise order, become South, West, and North.
  3. Place a wind indicator (if using) to mark the current East.

Step 5: Break the Wall

  1. East rolls the dice again and counts that many two-tile columns from the right end of their wall.
  2. At that spot, they break the wall by moving aside those tiles. This is like cutting a deck of cards.
  3. Starting from the break, East takes the first two columns (4 tiles).
  4. Play is to the right and in counter-clockwise order, each player takes 4 tiles at a time until everyone has 12 tiles.

Step 6: Deal Final Tiles

  1. East takes 2 more tiles (the first and third from the top row).
  2. The other players (still going counter-clockwise) each take 1 more tile.
    • Now East has 14 tiles, and the others have 13.
  3. Players place their tiles on the tilted side of their racks, hidden from view.

Step 7: Prepare for the Charleston

Now that everyone has their tiles, players start organizing their hands and getting ready for the Charleston—a unique passing round in American Mahjong that helps you improve your starting hand.

Read more: How the Charleston Works in American Mahjong

That’s It—You’re Ready to Play!

Now that your game is set up, it’s time to strategize, socialize, and enjoy the magic of Mahjong—one tile at a time.

Additional Reading

How to Get Better at American Mahjong: A Beginner’s Guide & Tips
How the Charleston Works in American Mahjong
Why In-Person Mahjong Lessons Offer the Best Learning Experience

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